Say “Yes!”

Preached on an Annual Meeting Sunday

[This sermon looks at the stewardship of our choices and all parts of our lives. It is not a money sermon.  It works equally well not on an annual meeting Sunday.]

I know not a lot of time today to read all the Annual reports.

So much happening!  So busy we are.

So much that it’s not possible for any one person to be part of it all.

As the number of activities and programs we could each be a part of increases, each of us will be required to pick and choose how we are involved.  It’s true in all aspects of life.  Especially if you have kids, but I hear it’s equally true in retirement.

It’s no longer possible for any of us, to do it all.

Which requires a new way of thinking.

What I don’t want is any of us to get the idea that IF I CAN’T DO IT ALL I WON’T DO ANY OF IT!

Instead, each of us needs to ask ourselves the question:  Which activities will help me to grow in faith?  Which activities will I make time for in my busy schedule?

Adopting this new mind-set will also require us to learn a vital skill - HOW TO SAY “NO.”  Both in our church life, and equally in our personal and family lives. 

Saying “NO” can be a hard skill to learn.  NO can disappoint people.  NO can put us at odds with people.  NO can make us feel guilty.  At least it can seem that way at the time.  But NO is required for healthy living.

Let me ask you, “What do you need to say NO to in your life?”  “How do you decide whether to say NO to something?”

[If you are able to, this is a good point to show the Nooma video “Shells.”  If you can’t that’s OK.]

I want to suggest that in order to say NO, I have to know to what I’ve said YES.

Doesn’t that make sense?

It’s an idea that Rob Bell develops in a video in the Nooma series entitled “Shells”.

He tells the story of one of his kids running into the ocean to grab a starfish, only to find that he can’t because his hands are already full of shells.  The only way to get the starfish is to let go of the shells.  The idea is clear.  If I’ve said yes to shells, then I can’t also say yes to the starfish.  In order to say yes to the starfish, I have to say no to the shells.

Think about that in your life.  It makes sense.

If I’ve said YES to hockey, than I have to say NO to activities that interfere with hockey.  Right?

If I’ve said YES to getting the best job I can, then I have to say NO to anything that gets in the way of getting that job.  It makes sense.

If I’ve said YES to keeping my family intact and healthy, then I have to say NO to anything that gets in the way of that goal.  Of course.

If I’ve said YES to growing closer to God by following Jesus, then again, I have to say NO to anything that stands in the way of growing that relationship.  It just makes sense.  In fact it more than makes sense, it’s imperative.

So Rob Bell encourages us with this idea, “We must examine the rhythms of our life if we’re ever going to will the one thing.”  Hear the need for intentionality in that statement?  Randomly reacting to life’s opportunities isn’t good enough.  Just doing everything that comes our way, isn’t good enough.  There MUST be intentionality.  We MUST examine and choose with purpose. 

What have I said YES to?

What have you said YES to?

And this is so true, not just for us personally, but also for us as a church.  Saying NO is based on what we have already said YES to.

As a congregation of God’s people striving to follow Jesus we have said YES to this:
[The mission statement for your congregation].

Therefore, to what might we have to say NO?

Having said YES to our mission will help us decide to what we have to say NO.

Having said YES to these things will help us decide what we have to let go of, what we have to lay down, and also, to what we have to say YES!

So here’s my hope and prayer for us this year and in the coming years.  Guided by God’s Spirit and embracing God’s path for us, in our personal lives and as a church, may we be healthy, may we be intentional, and may we be like Jesus, able to say NO, because we’ve already said YES.

Think about it:

1.    What do you need to say NO to in your life?

2.    How do you decide whether to say NO to something?”

3.    To what have you said YES?

AMEN.

Legacy Sermon

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Communion

Today we will participate in a practice of legacy. (Indicate the table)

It’s Jesus’ last night with his friends. Passover celebration.

When we read and compare the 4 versions of this story from the 4 gospels, (especially in John’s gospel, even though Jesus doesn’t establish communion there) Jesus appears to know what is coming and is planning for when it occurs.

He teaches (John). He models servanthood (John). He gives the disciples a practice to engage in. (Matthew, Mark, Luke). He predicts his betrayal or handing over. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Very intentional. Not leaving anything to chance. “Here’s what’s coming. Do this in remembrance of me.”

There is a pattern here for us to emulate. And we have, for the last almost 2000 years. And we will today. The sacrament of communion, the Eucharist. “Do this in remembrance of me.”

There is another pattern here for us to emulate, though. That of preparing for what we believe is coming.

Hold that thought, over here.


This morning we heard read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

The Apostle Paul’s intro to his instructions about the Lord’s Supper; communion again.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (NRSV)

Again, there is a pattern here for us to emulate.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.”

The pattern of receiving and passing along.

Eric Law, in his book Holy Currencies, takes up this imagery and talks about keeping resources flowing, like water. A healthy, beautiful, clear, stream is one that flows. As soon as the water ceases to flow, it becomes stagnant and sick. Similarly with our resources and currencies. We need to keep them flowing.

I receive. I pass along.

Now bring back that earlier thought you put aside. Remember?

The pattern of preparing for what we believe is coming; what Jesus was doing for his disciples on that last night he was with them. Establishing a legacy.

Each of us needs to consider what will be our legacy. One day, hopefully after a long and fulfilling lifetime, but you never know, each of us will die and leave this earth. And interestingly, many of the things we believe will happen to us after our death we believe because of what Jesus taught on his last night, in that upper room, around the table, according to John’s gospel. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” “I go to prepare a place for you.” “Where I am, there you may be also.”

And so we have faith and trust in God that, as our new creed tells us, “In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone” and so we say, “Thanks be to God.”

Our Christian faith gives us hope and brings us peace about our own death and future life.

But we’re not there yet. And that’s good.

Because in the meantime, we have the opportunity to prepare for that day. We have time to consider what will be our legacy; to pass along what we have received and keep our resources flowing, even after we are gone.

If you would like further information about planning your legacy and making a gift to your church, please contact the church office or your local Stewardship & Gifts Officer. They would be happy to meet with you and offer possibilities and resources to help in your decision making.

(You can find a list of Stewardship & Gifts Officers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ONYpGPGJTfOTZsMjVpOHZhXzg/view accessed through the stewardshiptoolkit.ca web-site.)

Now to grease those gears and get you thinking, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacrament of communion with Christ and with each other, let me leave you with a couple of questions to ponder.

1. How does your Christian faith give you hope and peace about the end of your life on earth?

2. What legacy will you be passing along, in remembrance of Jesus?



AMEN.